The workshop used a Workshop Manual. It was a three ring binder with loose pages that could be renewed when updated information became available. The picture shows a yellow, hardcover manual for the MGA, which was available for consumers (Part No. AKD600D). My own well-thumbed one is issue number 5, dating from the early sixties and contains information about the MGA 1500, 1600 Mk I and Mk II, including the DeLuxe, but not the Twin Cam.

The one on the right is an original Workshop Manual for the MGA 1500 as issued in August 1955 by the Export Department. It was printed in Great Britain by Nuffield press (Part No. AKD 600), has a green cover and only two pins. It is followed by a fold out lube sheet in heavier paper.

Used only by the dealers was the Spare Parts List, also in hardcover three ring binders. On the left is the Spare Parts List for the MGA (1500) with Part No. AKD1055. On the right is the one issued for the MGA 1600 (Part No. AKD1215). Both have yellow covers, whilst the binder for the ZA and ZB Magnette (below) is green (Part No. AKD 688).

Other publications were of course the Operation Manuals. Pictured on the right is one for the Twin Cam (Part No. AKD 879). The booklet on the left contains information about "Special tuning" for the MGA 1500 and 1600 (Part No. AKD819B).

In the 1970s the book was re-issued by what was then called Leyland Special Tuning. Only six stencilled pages with a blue MGA on the front cover. Its Part No. was C-AKD 819F in which the "C" stood for "competition".











Some of the available accessories:

A radio was an optional extra that was not available through the factory, but was mostly installed by the dealer. This to give the customer a choice of the available radio's. A popular choice of the time was the Radiomobile. It was mounted in the dashboard, where space was provided on the passenger side. The loudspeaker was mounted in the centre of the faciapanel, a power amplifier could be mounted on the bulkhead behind the loudspeaker. The Antenna should always be mounted on the drivers' side wing. Years ago I found an instruction manual by S. Smiths & Sons (Radiomobile) Ltd., published in 1958. Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the pages

One accessory to make your MGA a real quickie was the addition of the Judson supercharger. Power costs money, sure, but with a supercharger you know exactly what the output will be and supercharging adds more performance than any other means. Much more information can be found on the website of Dominic Clancy.

Click the thumbnails below for better views

One of the most confusing subjects is always: "What kind of sidescreens should there be on my MGA?" There are indeed a lot of different types, but there are only three basic types: the first is the screen with the hinged flap that came with the A1500 when it was introduced in 1955; the second was the screen with sliding windows introduced on the A1600 and the third was the aluminium screen that came with the hardtop. So far it's easy. Now the trouble of identifying these screens starts. The MGA 1500 had the screens with the hinged flaps, so you could have some fresh air or give signals to other drivers. They were available in the same colours as the hood, black or ice blue (parts catalogue MGA 1500: sidescreen with hinged flaps)

The flaps were kept closed by a spring, they didn't stay up by themselves. But very soon the aftermarket industry found just the solution for that particular problem, like this device made by Accessory Engineering (photo taken from the book "Accessories for your Sports Car" by Larry Reid, published by Sports Car Press, New York, 1958)

In fact these hinged screens aren't very handy; they give too much ventilation when you don't need it, too little when you do. So very soon screens with sliding windows became available on the aftermarket. They were often made of aluminium frames with acrylic plastic like the ones made by Stevens Plastics from Los Angeles or Lebron Manufacturing in Omaha, Nebraska


















 
                     Stevens                                         Lebron

In 1956 an aluminium hardtop was introduced as an option. It had much improved sidescreens, with aluminium frames and windows made of rigid plastic. The front window was fixed to the frame, but the rear window could slide in the frame. Strangely these screens were not available as standard on the 1500 (parts catalogue MGA 1500: side screen for use with aluminum hardtop)








They did become standard when the 1600 was introduced, although they were not of the aluminium type. Instead the metal frame was clothed in the same material as the hood. Again they were available in the same colours as the hood: grey, beige and blue (parts catalogue MGA 1600: sidescreen with cloth)



















With the introduction of the A 1600 a glass-fibre version of the hardtop was introduced and that one also had aluminium screens with sliding windows, but with a slightly different curve of the screens (parts catalogue MGA 1600: side screen for use with glass-fibre hardtop)








New screens of all types are still being offered by companies like Anglo Parts or Moss (image taken from Anglo Parts Trim Catalogue 1990)

This is an accessory I had never seen before. Made by Lebron Manufacturing in Omaha, Nebraska, its purpose is to improve the airflow into the grille, thus providing the engine with cooler air. According to the ad, from the February 1959 issue of Road & Track, installing this device also eliminates the need to replace the chrome grille. It just might work, but somehow I don't think this accessory found many byers.







Another advert from  Road & Track, January 1959

The MGA could be fitted with a chrome plated luggage rack as an optional extra. It was supplied by the MG Car Company and could be fitted to all models. The rack was bolted to the boot lid and two longitudinal strips made it strong enough to carry your suitcase. According to Anders Ditlev Clausager in "Original MGA" (page 89) a wing mirror was always fitted on the driver's side

Luggage rack as pictured in the MGA Service Parts list AKD1215. The part number is AHH 5495











Moss Motors sells a very nice reproduction











Others also made luggage racks for the MGA. This one dates from the fifties and was made by Accessory Engineering from California. Hardwood slats were mounted on a steel frame. The rack was held in place by four suction cups and web straps. No need to drill holes and the whole unit could be mounted or removed in seconds (photo from the book "Accessories for your Sports Car" by Larry Reid, published by Sports Car Press, New York, 1958)









Chromerack made by AMCO (photo: Rick Brown)














Chrome rack made by AMCO (photo: Glenn Johnson)













An unusual luggage rack on which the spare wheel can be mounted

Set of two leather suitcases, made by the Warren Leather Goods Company in Massachusetts, designed to make the most effective use of the limited luggage compartment of the MGA (photo taken from the book "Accessories for your Sports Car" by Larry Reid, published by Sports Car Press, New York, 1958)

A nice addition to avoid an overcrowded MGA would be this occasional four-seater conversion that was introduced in 1957 by now defunct Scottish MG Distributors John Gibson & Sons Ltd. from Edinburgh. They made it for an local farmer and the car's registration number was RSF 456. I wonder if it still exists?



























A letter by 'John Gibson & Sons Ltd.' explaining the dicky-seat conversion (click pic for enlargement)




This photo was published in the "Scotsman" newspaper around the time of the conversion

Perhaps a better solution to your luggage problems is this Continental Style Spare Wheel. In 1958 it was offered as a kit by a Canadian company called Cooke Toledo Motors Ltd., Quebec (photo from the book "Accessories for your Sports Car" by Larry Reid, published by Sports Car Press, New York, 1958)

According to Anders Ditlev Clausager in "Original MGA" (page 92) there are two types of ash trays for the MGA. If you look at the ash tray as pictured in the parts list, it seems that the curvature at the front of the tray is higher than at the rear. The fixing screws are on the outside of the bottom flange (photo taken from "Original MGA" by Anders Ditlev Clausager)









Ashtray as pictured in the MGA Service Parts list AKD1215 for the A1600. The part number is AHH 5539











The pictures on the right and below are from my own MGA. It has the ash tray with the later part number AHH 7061. It looks like the curvature of the tray has the same height at front and rear. It also has a the fixing screws on the inside of the tray
























I found this on one at an autojumble. It was exactly the same as the original ashtray, only the lid was black instead of chromed and it had a black crackle finish. Could this one be for an MGB?











A period aftermarket ash tray was made by the Jepco Manufacturing Co. in North Hollywood, California. They are extremely rare, how many are still around is unknown, but Rick Brown, who owns this one, has only seen six so far (photo's: Rick Brown)

Two hardtops were originally available for the MGA. From 1956 the MG factory in Abingdon could supply you with a black, aluminium hardtop made by Vandenplas, a subsidiary of BMC. Later, with the introduction of the MGA 1600, the aluminium hardtop was replaced with a fibreglass one made by Universal Laminations, one that was obviously cheaper to produce. Apart from the material they were made from, they were also quite different, notably in the rear window area and in the way they were fixed to the body

the aluminium one as pictured in the Twin Cam Operation Manual AKD 879











fibreglass hardtop as shown in the MGA 1600 parts catalogue















There were other manufacturers who wanted a piece of the cake. Below the original Universal Laminations hardtop, on which Abingdon's GRP one was allegedly based. Note the internal roof light; a standard fitting on these tops




















Other manufacturers were for example Plasticon Inc. in El Monte, California, who made a strong, lightweight, reinforced plastic hardtop.

And what about this Fibreglass Fastback from Custom Automotive. Looks sleek, doesn't it?
(advert from Road & Track, April 1960)













Italian hardtop made by M.M. Fattori & Montani. According to the advert the hardtop "follows smoothly the lines of the MGA, thus giving it a typical Italian appearance".

When winter comes and it becomes too darn cold for the MGA to reach its normal operating temperature, you might consider fitting this Kingsbury grille muff. These were originally offered through dealers in cold climates, and fit the MGA grille with no drilling whatsoever. You can leave them in place during winter as there are flaps which regulate air flow through the radiator. The image shows the mufflette for the 1500 and 1600. There was also a smaller version to fit the Mk II.

Side window that could open in 5 different positions to the back or all the way to the front for greater ventilation. Made by the manufacturers of the LeBron Snorkle.